Scholarships
Scholarships are available from many
sources, including universities, colleges,
private organizations and companies.
Money received from a scholarship doesn't
have to be repaid.
Sometimes scholarships are awarded based
on merit, so to qualify you might have to
meet pre-determined standards such as
academic achievement or athletic
achievement. Other scholarships, however,
are based on financial need.
Grants
Grants typically do not have to be paid
back. Many are based on qualifying
circumstances, like your financial need, age
and the type of degree you're seeking.
Grants can be offered by independent
organizations, educational institutions,
private business and the federal government.
One of the most common grants available is
the Pell Grant, which is offered through the
federal government. This is a financial-need
based grant available to undergraduate
students and some students enrolled in a
post-baccalaureate teacher certification
program.
To be considered for a Pell Grant, you have
to fill out the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA
®
). You have to do it
every year you're enrolled in order to remain
eligible. After you've completed this the
schools you've selected will receive an
award letter that includes both federal and
non-federal financial aid options.
Start the application process here.
Learn more about the Pell Grant here.
SCAM ALERT
Unfortunately there are scams out there
targeting students looking for aid. It's
important to know that you don't have to pay
money to apply for grants or scholarships.
The federal government has a factsheet on
avoiding scams that you can access here.
Although Pell Grants are the most well-known
federal grant, there are actually a few others
to consider. For instance, the Federal
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
(FSEOG) is for those with exceptional
financial need. This grant is actually
administered at the school level, and not
every school participates in the program. To
determine if a school does participate, you
usually have to ask their financial aid
department. Learn more about FSEOG.
The federal government also offers a Teacher
Education Assistance for College and Higher
Education Grant – often called simply the
TEACH Grant. This grant does come with
special requirements, including instructing
recipients to take specific classes and teach
for a certain length of time in a high-need
field and a low-income area.
Explore TEACH Grant specifics.
Grants can also be offered directly by
universities, colleges, private organizations
and companies. You can search a wide
range of grant opportunities, including
non-federal grants at Grants.Gov.
